Jazz Gala 17 will be taking place up and down the country in the first week of June with a star studded international line up.
Organiser Rodger Fox describes the tour as a blend of concerts of his own big band plus a series of major educational workshops with several highly reputed international artists, branded as ‘Jazz on the Road’.
The Rodger Fox Big Band will be joined on stage by legendary US drummer Dave Weckl, trumpeter Alex Sipiagin and saxophonist Adam Schroeder, along with Tony Lindsay – long time vocalist with Santana.
The tour starts with a full workshop and concert at Auckland’s Bruce Mason Theatre, concluding in Wellington with a concert and drum workshop.
Named as one of the 25 best drummers of all time by Modern Drummer, Dave Weckl has backed the likes of George Benson, Madonna, Paul Simon and Robert Plant. Most recently he’s been touring with the Chick Corea Elektric Band and Mike Stern.
Twenty years as lead vocalist for Santana have garnered Tony Lindsay an incredible 11 Grammy Awards. Baritone sax player Adam Schroeder is a rising star who performs with the Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, while Alex Sipiagin has played trumpet with Dave Holland, Michael Brecker and the Mingus groups.
The concert tour and Jazz On The Road workshops have been organised to help fund Fox’s Wellington-based big band to perform at this year’s 60th Monterey Jazz Festival and to record at United Studios in Los Angeles.
June 1 Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland
June 2 Expressions Art Centre, Upper Hutt
June 3 Regent Theatre, Palmerston North
June 4 Century Theatre, Napier
June 6 Aurora Centre, Christchurch
June 8 Wellington Opera House
Tickets variously available through all major ticketing outlets.
